the fire officer trust podcast

  Katherine Thais Ridenhour, retired Battalion Chief, Aurora Fire Department (CO), is passionate about teaching competent and confident leadership on and off the fireground. Her classes include strategy/tactics, command, conflict solution/problem solving, leadership and promotional preparation. Katherine's experience spans 25 years in Tech Rescue, FEMA/USAR, EMS, Training Division, Diversity Board and past President of Women in the Fire Service. She also spent 5 recent years after retirement as a volunteer firefighter and feels privileged to understand the rural side of the fire service. Her passion for presenting exceptional teaching methodologies has earned her multiple requests to teach at various departments, and she is proud to serve the volunteer side of the fire service in that way. She also has extensive teaching at various Department of Defense bases including the United States Air Force Academy, Tyndall Air Force Base and the entire Northwest Navy Region. Katherine has taught nationally for years at such conferences as FDIC, FRI, the IAFC Metro Chiefs, the IAFF Human Relations and Redmond Symposium, as well as various state conferences. Despite being retired, she is an avid student of the fire service and keeps current with all the latest trends. She has mentored at least 1000 firefighters to assist them getting promoted to various positions, including Chief of Department and is still sought after for those and her teaching abilities. She is grateful to have had a great career and the opportunity to teach around the nation in order to give back to the fire service. I had the distinct honor of talking with Chief Ridenhour about her experiences in the Fire Service.  Her work on exposing the practice of "Bullying" in our industry is well known, as she is a sought after lecturer and keynote speaker. Take the time to listen to this in-depth episode that focuses on several issues in our workplace.

I want to thank the members of the International Association of Fire Chiefs' HRC committee for allowing me to speak on the matter of Diversity.  It is my hope that we can move the discussion from "Culture to Caring " and from "Diversity to Inclusion".  I will be updating the notes on this episode throughout the week. Take a listen and please share thw episode and your comments below.  

Captain Tiffanye Wesley and her team guard the U.S. Pentagon.  Along with this trusted position, she is an author, leader and continues to inspire others. She speaks about her challenges and her perververance.  I continue to see her on the national stage and she is always willing and able to support others and share. Tiffanye S. Wesley is celebrated as a leader and trailblazer. The leadership trainer and inspirational speaker is also a Fire/EMS Captain II with the Arlington County Fire Department in Arlington, Virginia - the first African American female to be promoted to this level of leadership in the department's 71-year history. A 24-year veteran of the Arlington County Fire Department, Tiffanye has served in numerous positions. The most notable positions include Nationally Certified Bomb Technician and Bomb Commander, Station Commander for the largest and busiest firehouse in Arlington and most recently Acting Battalion Chief where she is responsible for effective supervision, management and coordination of emergency scene operations, as well as; daily operations of a battalion (5 fire stations). Though known for putting out fires, she also ignites audiences as a leadership trainer often focusing on leading with integrity and respect. http://tiffanyewesley.com/ Tiffanye also recently released her published work in the book anthology, No More Chains. Her story is also profiled in a 2017 documentary by the same title.

I want to thank the members of the board and colleagues for allowing me an opportunity to share some thoughts.  Please support this worthy endeavor.   Located on the grounds of the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks, stands the Connecticut Firefighters Memorial dedicated to Connecticut Firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.     The Memorial was first envisioned in 1992 with the establishment of a Memorial Committee by the Connecticut State Firefighters Association.  A ground breaking was held on June 12, 2001.  The Memorial is the first of its kind in the state honoring Connecticut Firefighters who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the fire service with more than 300 names engraved in the panels that surround the Memorial.   The design of the Memorial was conceived by the Connecticut Firefighters Memorial Committee incorporating a plaza-like setting, featuring a brick patio in the form of the Maltese Cross, the universal symbol of the fire service.  The centerpiece of the Memorial is a six foot by twelve foot polished impala black granite stone bearing the likeness of four firefighters fighting a blaze; Lieutenant Paul Walsh of the New Britain Fire Department designed the artists' rendition of the firefighters.  The centerpiece rests upon a base of concrete and gray granite to which are affixed plaques with the engraved names of those who have lost their lives.  The plaques are numbered with roman numerals to ease the task of locating names. Atop the base, in front of the centerpiece is an eternal flame to acknowledge and honor this group of brave and noble firefighters. Surrounding the centerpiece are eight granite sitting benches representing the eight counties in Connecticut.   As Lieutenant Governor, Governor M. Jodi Rell played a major role in the fundraising efforts that concluded with the unveiling of the $250,000.00 memorial.  The Memorial was dedicated on August 18, 2002, in her keynote address then Lieutenant Governor Rell spoke on the value of having a permanent place for honoring Connecticut's fallen firefighters.  She applauded the many dedicated firefighters, residents and others whose contributions allowed the construction of this beautiful Memorial.   To make a donation to the Connecticut Fallen Firefighter Memorial or to purchase a walkway brick go to www.ct.gov/cfpc and click on Fallen Firefighter Memorial in the center of the page. https://www.facebook.com/ctfirefightermemorial/

GLUE is a universal resource for the growth and development of EMPOWERment paradigms. This program is certain to develop strong leaders in all ranks of your organization. The "GLUE Guys" touch on vital issues that reaffirm the connections to the communities and people we serve.  Their unique brand of leadership empowerment brings focus on the individual leader and their growth through principled leadership!   I have been following the G.L.U.E. Guys for quite some time now.  Their innovative approach to leadership development has the all-access flavor that is necessary in today's business market.  Although I have primarily seen their work in the emergency management sector, I recognize those foundational principles that are the hallmark of successful leaders and organizations. Larry Conley Radio Show - June 18, 2018 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fireengineeringtalkradio Leadership Development Concepts, LLC is dedicated to improving lives through personal development and building a path to personal leadership.

Transformational Leadership with Fire Chief Reggie Freeman   While attending a community event in the City of New Haven, Hartford Fire Chief Reggie Freeman and I got the opportunity to "chop it up" and discuss his passion for Transformational Leadership.  Please give a listen and share this great insight that Chief Freeman has been espousing all over the globe.  The content is heavy and well worth taking a few notes to improve your management style, no matter what industry you represent. Reginald D. Freeman, MS, CFO, FIFireE On February 1, 2016, Reginald D. Freeman was sworn in as the 37th Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director for the City of Hartford. Prior to the City of Hartford, Chief Freeman served as Fire Chief for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Ft. Worth, TX also known as U.S. Air Force Plant 4. In addition to his duties as Chief of Department to the team in Ft. Worth, Chief Freeman provided international guidance and direction to the Italian and Japanese governments through the Ministry of Defence by providing training and consulting to each nation's Air Force Fire Department personnel, respectively as it pertains to the F-35 Lightning. Furthermore, Chief Freeman served as the Assistant Chief/Deputy Director of Emergency Management for the City of Hartford, CT as well as Fire Chief for Lockheed Martin in Marietta, GA. (U.S. Air Force Plant 6) where he was named Professional of the Year in 2009. Chief Freeman served in Iraq as a civilian Fire Chief for the U.S. Department of Defense and coalition allies from 2004 to 2008, providing all hazards fire and emergency services to forward and continuing operating bases throughout Iraq. His last assignment was at their headquarters on Camp Victory in Baghdad as the Chief of Compliance, Safety, & Planning where he helped managed more than 700 firefighters and nearly 25,000 calls per year.  He has worked in a number of fire service capacities in his career including Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Fire Captain, Fire Service Instructor, Assistant Fire Chief, and Fire Chief. Fire Chief Reggie FreemanChief Freeman's educational accomplishments include a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership from Bellevue University in Bellevue, NE. He earned his Master's Degree in Executive Fire Service Leadership from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ and he is currently a Doctoral student in dissertation phase studying Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Organizational Development. Chief Freeman is also a graduate and Fellow of Harvard University's Senior Executives for State & Local Government program at the Kennedy School of Government. Chief Freeman previously served as the Chair of the Industrial Fire & Life Safety Section for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and a previous Board member of the Executive Fire Officer Section of the IAFC and Technical Committee member of NFPA 1021 (Fire Officer Professional Qualifications), respectively. Additionally, Chief Freeman serves as the Chair for the Commission on Professional Credentialing via the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. and is also the Director of Training for the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs. Lastly, Chief Freeman is an accredited Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. as well as a credentialed “Fellow” with the Institution of Fire Engineers, USA Branch. Lastly, Chief Freeman serves on the Board of Directors for NFPA. Chief Freeman is an Adjunct Professor for Anna Maria College and the University of Florida where he lectures in both undergraduate and graduate Fire Science and Master of Public Administration programs.    

While attending the 2018 i-Women Conference, I had the most fortunate opportunity to sit down with Ms. Cindy Ell of the Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation. The Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation: Working to Extinguish Fire Fighter Cancer Firefighters dedicate their lives to the service of others. The Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation was established in 2004 to provide international outreach, support, and resource assistance programs for firefighters and family members that are stricken by cancer.  The Foundation is creating state of the art programs for cancer education, awareness, research and prevention to ensure the quality of life and retirement of fire fighters around  the world. Cindy is a wealth of information and showed us many of the products and information packs that they have developed to help educate Fire Fighters and their families.   We had the chance to talk about Cancer, as it relates to the work environment and the impact it has on first responders and our families. There was such a wide range of topics and programs that we encourage you to visit their website at:  www.ffcancer.org And then donate...

Had the tremendous opportunity to spend an evening, back in February of this year, sharing some ideas on Black Heritage.  I want to thank Leonard Webb of Ethnic Online for asking me to participate in the program.  There was spoken word, an African American Heritage Showroom, a funky band and then me... This type of event and venue always presents new challenges to public speaking, as you must share with a crowd that came to eat, dance, have a good time and talk about of rich heritage.  It becomes a greater challenge when you have to speak in between a band break at 9:40 p.m.. Having my Dad, John, Sr., in the audience made it so much better and I hope the ad-hoc audio recording plays well enough for you to get the message of what I hoped to accomplish.  

Had the privilege speaking to the Connecticut Fire Service Instructor's Association.  The topic was training the new firefighter.  The audio is basic.  It was live and not planned to be recorded. The speech was an informal talk at their Annual Meeting. We talked about the classic model of training: Prepare Present Apply Test Follow-up   Please share and like this clip.  Catch us on www.fireofficertrust.org

I joined the Fire Smoke Coalition years ago.  It was not until I got their information at FDIC (www.fdic.com) and reviewed it that I found a wealth of resources that can change firefighters lives. The mission of the Fire Smoke Coalition is to focus the required attention and resources on the deadly and life-long consequences of breathing  fire smoke by teaching firefighters and first responders how to Prevent, Protect, Detect, Diagnose, and appropriately Treat the exposure if it occurs.  The Coalition is comprised of firefighters and the medical community – all who embrace the challenge of teaching firefighters how to stay alive – and prevent the disease, illness and death associated with today's deadly fire smoke. This post links you to an interview I had with the organizations Executive Director, Shawn Longerich.  Her candor and passion for firefighter safety permeates this discussion. Please visit: www.firesmoke.org  for further information and resources.  Support the cause that is focused on firefighter safety and health.  We can do better! Shawn Longerich, Executive Director shawn@firesmoke.org

Some people say that the toughest change or transition for them is from firefighter to officer; it would be the same in any profession or industry, when you move from worker to supervisor. Just as in the private sector the move and transition is task, role and responsibility specific.  In some cases it is even physical… In most professions, a promotion is seen as a reward.  In our industry it is more function specific. You may go from driver to the other front seat with no controls; driving in a vehicle all alone or be driven by an aide. I have ridden in all of them.  Each has its place  and each has its own unique perspective. In my profession people say that the toughest change or transition for them is from firefighter to officer They may be right if:  - You weren't serious about the job or your responsibilities, to begin with. - You didn't make the investment in yourself to study and become proficient - You don't like people (the ones you serve or the ones you serve with) - You are one of the guys/gals and can't distinguish between leader / follower - You lack the courage to change yourself and circumstances when needed. I don't want you to think that I am bashing anyone or being cruel. I'm not.  Some Officers are honest and tell me that they went for the higher rank, solely, for the higher pay.  (To me, that's wrong… although not criminal...and now I'm off the soap box) There are other reasons for this.  I have had the pleasure to work with and speak to hundreds of fire officers in the last thirty years.  Each of them brings something unique to the office and many bring the same thing.  I am finding more and more that they are tool and task focused, as opposed to the overall operation or mission. When you make the change, there must also be a transition. You must understand your role and responsibility. So, if you are a person aspiring to be an officer or manager: ·         Learn your job well, first ·         Study and train for the position you seek ·         Network with incumbents who have been there, done that and have been successful ·         Select and establish rapport with a mentor or role-model ·         Focus your efforts with a positive attitude If you are already that person and not sure: ·         Perform a self-audit:  “Ask yourself, am I doing all that I can?” ·         Study and train to maintain your optimal level of proficiency and knowledge  www.fireofficertrust.org

Deputy Chief Chris Pepler has been on the lecture and training circuit for some time now.  He holds the rank of Deputy Chief and is a 15 year veteran of the Torrington Fire Department, Torrington, Connecticut.  My first encounter with him was when he brought the first NFPA Certified Electric Car Train-the-Trainer course to us in New Jersey.  His delivery was crisp and informing.  I have been impressed with him, since. Having followed his career has given me a great appreciation for the Instructor and Fire Officer he has become.  Check out the short interview I was able to grab, during our time @FDIC.

Had a chance to talk to Safety Battalion Chief Wayne Smith of the Indianapolis Fire Department about the dangers of fire smoke and his department's "On Mask, All the Time" Policy.  See the whole topic on the "Fire Officer Trust" Blog".  Listen in!

While attending the 2013 New Jersey Weekend, at the National Fire Academy, I was able to sit down for an informative chat with the Superintendent.  Dr. Denis Onieal and I go way back.  Twenty-eight years to be exact.  He has been a friend and mentor, for equally as long. Back in the mid to late 80's, Dr Onieal and I worked on several projects for the Jersey City Fie Department, the State of New Jersey and the Federal Government.  He has always taken a practical and insightful approach, to every project or issue.  His interpersonal skills are, what I think, the essence of his character; he cares about people. Listen to our brief talk concerning Fire Officers and the future of the Fire Service, in general.

I had an information packed and candid conversation with Retired Chief Eddie Burns, of the Dallas Fire Department, Dallas, TX.  I have had the great fortune to team up with Eddie Burns inside and outside of the classroom.  Here he shares keen insight into the successful steps and preparation one must take to be productive and effective as an Executive Fire Officer. He talks about the importance of Competence, Trust and Loyalty.  Listen and let us know what you think.

This is a brief interview with Lieutenant Stephanie Denis of the Gatineau Fire Service of Canada. We had the opportunity to chat at @FDIC 2013 in Indianapolis.  We discussed several issues and it was great to get another prospective on our beloved profession.

"A Service and a Commitment". Battalion Chief John Alston, of the Jersey City Fire Department, gives the Keynote Address to the Fire Recruits graduating from the Union County Fire Academy. The ceremonies were held on the campus of Union County College; Cranford Campus.